Mom Bloggers Club2015-08-02T22:50:32ZLeah Cooper-Procknohttp://www.mombloggersclub.com/profile/LeahCooperProcknohttp://api.ning.com:80/files/iecsXRc1Dr2pfSA*l1awKYqujJsMdtWFbGb6mrupgnYF2-Mb0qDDk-dQjSoNJxe5k8uYgBpt0xLjYuEpvXYOaw__/559098493.jpeg?xgip=79%3A0%3A319%3A319%3B%3B&width=48&height=48&crop=1%3A1http://www.mombloggersclub.com/forum/topic/listForContributor?user=0mkwfnfq25biy&feed=yes&xn_auth=noIs Going to the Movies Too Dangerous?tag:www.mombloggersclub.com,2015-07-31:988554:Topic:16268672015-07-31T14:09:51.511ZLeah Cooper-Procknohttp://www.mombloggersclub.com/profile/LeahCooperProckno
<p><a href="http://api.ning.com:80/files/a8ZZitQ2zfXsbc17gxNLxY89D75-gXESbsp7yuemlQQhvYRt75w5Lxcx6PqYHziwe8U9ObRPNyXRMohOnWs8hfLbiY*0H3Kj/photodune2817321awomaninthemovietheatrexs.jpg" target="_self"><img class="align-right" src="http://api.ning.com:80/files/a8ZZitQ2zfXsbc17gxNLxY89D75-gXESbsp7yuemlQQhvYRt75w5Lxcx6PqYHziwe8U9ObRPNyXRMohOnWs8hfLbiY*0H3Kj/photodune2817321awomaninthemovietheatrexs.jpg?width=300" width="300"></img></a> Now that there has been another attack at a movie theater do you think taking your family to see the latest film is too dangerous?</p>
<p><a href="http://www.ew.com/article/2015/07/29/lafayette-shooting-metal-detectors" target="_blank">Entertainment Weekly</a> wrote a piece about will…</p>
<p><a href="http://api.ning.com:80/files/a8ZZitQ2zfXsbc17gxNLxY89D75-gXESbsp7yuemlQQhvYRt75w5Lxcx6PqYHziwe8U9ObRPNyXRMohOnWs8hfLbiY*0H3Kj/photodune2817321awomaninthemovietheatrexs.jpg" target="_self"><img src="http://api.ning.com:80/files/a8ZZitQ2zfXsbc17gxNLxY89D75-gXESbsp7yuemlQQhvYRt75w5Lxcx6PqYHziwe8U9ObRPNyXRMohOnWs8hfLbiY*0H3Kj/photodune2817321awomaninthemovietheatrexs.jpg?width=300" width="300" class="align-right"/></a>Now that there has been another attack at a movie theater do you think taking your family to see the latest film is too dangerous?</p>
<p><a href="http://www.ew.com/article/2015/07/29/lafayette-shooting-metal-detectors" target="_blank">Entertainment Weekly</a> wrote a piece about will metal detectors will make theaters safer. They also wrote that metal detectors may be cost prohibitive for many. </p>
<p>Have you decided to forego movie theaters? </p>
<p></p> #LinkUp at the August Everyday Friends Monthly Blog & Social Media Hoptag:www.mombloggersclub.com,2015-07-31:988554:Topic:16268492015-07-31T13:28:28.048ZLeah Cooper-Procknohttp://www.mombloggersclub.com/profile/LeahCooperProckno
<p style="text-align: center;"><span class="font-size-3" style="font-family: georgia,palatino; color: #669219;"><strong><span style="font-size: 24px;"><em>Hello Fellow Bloggers!…</em></span></strong></span></p>
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<p style="text-align: center;"><span class="font-size-3" style="font-family: georgia,palatino; color: #669219;"><strong><span style="font-size: 24px;"><em>Hello Fellow Bloggers!</em></span></strong></span></p>
<div class="xg_user_generated"><div class="xg_user_generated"><div class="xg_user_generated"><div style="text-align: center;" class="xg_user_generated"><p><span style="font-family: georgia,palatino;"><a target="_blank" href="http://www.oureverydayharvest.com/search/label/Everyday%20Friends%20Monthly%20Blog%20and%20Social%20Media%20Hop"><img class="align-center" src="http://api.ning.com:80/files/a8ZZitQ2zfV10Yu6akiJNXGQ-wzcPS9c*eYhrSo0rhZho0rZT*bLwY-tF1272AEPYBcbuS2wGUkpOV9OAYzgYA0ck*Q-zKHV/EverydayFriendsBlogHopButton800x800.png?width=500" height="372" width="372"/></a></span></p>
<div><span class="font-size-3" style="font-family: georgia,palatino; color: #669219;"><strong><span style="font-size: 24px;"><em>A new August edition of the </em><a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.oureverydayharvest.com/2015/07/linkup-everyday-friends-monthly-blog.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #623e18;">Everyday Friends Monthly Blog &amp; Social Media Hop</span></a> <em>is now live!</em></span></strong></span></div>
<p><br/> <span class="font-size-3" style="font-family: georgia,palatino; color: #623e18;"><br/>
<span class="font-size-3" style="font-family: georgia,palatino; color: #623e18;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">You're invited to stop on by all month long to link up your blog and other social media sites. The hop is a great way to network and meet other bloggers every month!</span></span></span></p>
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</div> Face Book Pages <3tag:www.mombloggersclub.com,2015-07-31:988554:Topic:16265852015-07-31T03:01:36.362ZLeah Cooper-Procknohttp://www.mombloggersclub.com/profile/LeahCooperProckno
<p>New Facebook Page is up!!! I post LOTS of recipes that I love on my bog, and I also write about my growing little family, the home, loving life and having faith (there are also a few great books to read about the mind and spirit, etc.)! <br></br> <br></br> If you follow mine, send me yours so that I can return the favor! :-D<br></br> <br></br> &gt;&gt;&gt; <a href="https://www.facebook.com/beautynliving" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/beautynliving</a> </p>
<p>HAVE AN AWESOME NIGHT!…</p>
<p>New Facebook Page is up!!! I post LOTS of recipes that I love on my bog, and I also write about my growing little family, the home, loving life and having faith (there are also a few great books to read about the mind and spirit, etc.)! <br/> <br/> If you follow mine, send me yours so that I can return the favor! :-D<br/> <br/> &gt;&gt;&gt; <a href="https://www.facebook.com/beautynliving" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">https://www.facebook.com/beautynliving</a> </p>
<p>HAVE AN AWESOME NIGHT! &lt;3<br/> Chynna</p>
<p>P.S.</p>
<p>It would be the GREASTEST if we all just band together and start following one another, yesss, letsss!!!</p> Losing Baby Weighttag:www.mombloggersclub.com,2015-07-30:988554:Topic:16266432015-07-30T18:04:36.906ZLeah Cooper-Procknohttp://www.mombloggersclub.com/profile/LeahCooperProckno
<p>Moms:</p>
<p>What is the most effective way to drop that baby weight? How about what have you done to get rid of extra skin and stretch marks?</p>
<p>Please share your experience below. </p>
<p>How long did it take you to lose the weight you wanted? </p>
<p>Are there moms out there who are still struggling with weight loss? ME TOO! </p>
<p>Moms:</p>
<p>What is the most effective way to drop that baby weight? How about what have you done to get rid of extra skin and stretch marks?</p>
<p>Please share your experience below. </p>
<p>How long did it take you to lose the weight you wanted? </p>
<p>Are there moms out there who are still struggling with weight loss? ME TOO! </p> 11 Tips For Making the Most of Your Family Vacationtag:www.mombloggersclub.com,2015-07-30:988554:Topic:16263372015-07-30T13:46:20.757ZLeah Cooper-Procknohttp://www.mombloggersclub.com/profile/LeahCooperProckno
<p><a href="http://api.ning.com:80/files/NQ48wH9Dt2SoVDRCYTFmOgqf0pCZfQ4K2oUqnnxilDUW5Z2xLqmrQOOFCmcIuzmMuHC7x1aYl3zvicvaCCyNFkCH2J219o7A/family_vacation.jpg" target="_self"><img class="align-full" src="http://api.ning.com:80/files/NQ48wH9Dt2SoVDRCYTFmOgqf0pCZfQ4K2oUqnnxilDUW5Z2xLqmrQOOFCmcIuzmMuHC7x1aYl3zvicvaCCyNFkCH2J219o7A/family_vacation.jpg" width="600"></img></a></p>
<p>Some of my favorite childhood memories were made during family vacations. Even seemingly bad moments on vacation can bring a family closer together. Lisa Heffernan, a mother to three adult children in Bedford Hills, New York and co-founder of the parenting website…</p>
<p><a target="_self" href="http://api.ning.com:80/files/NQ48wH9Dt2SoVDRCYTFmOgqf0pCZfQ4K2oUqnnxilDUW5Z2xLqmrQOOFCmcIuzmMuHC7x1aYl3zvicvaCCyNFkCH2J219o7A/family_vacation.jpg"><img class="align-full" src="http://api.ning.com:80/files/NQ48wH9Dt2SoVDRCYTFmOgqf0pCZfQ4K2oUqnnxilDUW5Z2xLqmrQOOFCmcIuzmMuHC7x1aYl3zvicvaCCyNFkCH2J219o7A/family_vacation.jpg" width="600"/></a></p>
<p>Some of my favorite childhood memories were made during family vacations. Even seemingly bad moments on vacation can bring a family closer together. Lisa Heffernan, a mother to three adult children in Bedford Hills, New York and co-founder of the parenting website <a href="http://www.grownandflown.com/">Grown and Flown</a>, remembers one family trip that didn't go as planned. "We got to Morocco with only my husband's luggage, so for a week our three boys had to share his clothes." After the initial shock, she says, we had a lot of fun with it and it left her children with a lasting life lesson: That we don't need half of what we own or bring with us on vacation. "I never had to tell them to pack light again."</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Family vacations have always been important for creating lasting memories and building family bonds -- but they may be even more important today. "We are all are living such disconnected lives that even when family members are together in the same room, they're often on their individual devices connecting with other people," says William Doherty, a family social science professor at the University of Minnesota. The family vacation, he says, is one of the few opportunities where everyone in the family is doing the same thing, at the same time, without the pull of outside commitments.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>So how can we make the most of this precious family time? Here are some tips:</p>
<p> </p>
<p><b>•Plan the trip together.</b> Include your children in the process by researching the destination together. For younger children, enlist their help in choosing sight-seeing sites. For teens, ask them to plan a family dinner out at the restaurant of their choosing.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><b>•Go camping.</b> Vacations don't have to cost a lot of money. In fact, no frills camping provides its own unique benefits by bringing families outdoors and requiring each person to pitch in and help.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><b>•Keep it within the family.</b> Tempted to bring a friend for your teen? Think twice if it could interfere with family bonding. Consider bringing the grandparents instead.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><b>•Plan with sleep schedules and activity levels in mind.</b> "The greatest cause of whiny tots or teens is exhaustion," says Lisa Heffernan. "Young kids do well with a morning packed with activities and then quiet or nap time after lunch. Teens are just to opposite and seem to come to life as the day wears on."</p>
<p> </p>
<p><b>•Put kids (and yourself) on a media detox.</b> Try banning all media and electronics while you're away. If a full detox is unrealistic, aim to leave electronics in the hotel room, only to be used when you're there. Try to continue these new habits when you get home.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><b>•Allow for spontaneity.</b> Resist the urge to overschedule your trip. Leave room for spontaneity, says Doherty. Unplanned moments often provide some of the best memories of a trip.</p>
<p><b>•Linger over meals.</b> During mealtime, reflect not only on the trip but life at home as well, says Heffernan. "Don't rush these moments--they may be some of the best family dinners you have all year."</p>
<p> </p>
<p><b>•Find fun everywhere.</b> "Make picking the right transportation part of the adventure," says Heffernan. "If kids and teens are bored of walking or taking buses, think about taking in the sights on a moped, bicycle or Segway." They allow you to cover a lot more ground, she says, and there will be no complaints about boredom.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><b>•Find teaching moments.</b> Take advantage of the opportunity that travel brings to teach children and teens important life lessons, like learning about different cultures, building patience, more understanding, flexibility, problem solving and time management skills, says Jim Petrick, a tourism professor and research fellow at Texas A&amp;M.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><b>•Make the vacation last.</b> Find small ways to keep the vacation going once you return home. Incorporate a new dish that was a family favorite on vacation. Put together a vacation album together with everyone's favorite photos. Talk about the trip and relive the memories. While vacations don't last forever, the memories can last a lifetime.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Jennifer Breheny Wallace is a freelance journalist and a contributing editor at <a href="http://www.empoweringparents.com/">EmpoweringParents.com</a></p>
<p>You can follow Jennifer on <a href="http://www.twitter.com/Wallacejennieb">Twitter</a></p>
<p></p> How to Start a Food Blogtag:www.mombloggersclub.com,2015-07-30:988554:Topic:16264312015-07-30T12:33:33.989ZLeah Cooper-Procknohttp://www.mombloggersclub.com/profile/LeahCooperProckno
<p><a href="http://api.ning.com:80/files/NQ48wH9Dt2R3tjyVARgPrwhuk6BAfeWJpMd16vxJoqxFFTbFUY-aD0CozTVBRIeGp44-kSDgmDfopidF4mLlQdTl4LvrlYXB/foodblog1.jpg" target="_self"><img class="align-full" src="http://api.ning.com:80/files/NQ48wH9Dt2R3tjyVARgPrwhuk6BAfeWJpMd16vxJoqxFFTbFUY-aD0CozTVBRIeGp44-kSDgmDfopidF4mLlQdTl4LvrlYXB/foodblog1.jpg" width="600"></img></a></p>
<p>Are you a food lover, have great ideas about meal planning, or create fabulous recipes you cannot imagine keeping to yourself? Then you might consider creating a food blog. Here are a few easy tips to getting started as a Web foodie.</p>
<p><b>Blog Themes</b><br></br> This may sound rather rudimentary, but a…</p>
<p><a href="http://api.ning.com:80/files/NQ48wH9Dt2R3tjyVARgPrwhuk6BAfeWJpMd16vxJoqxFFTbFUY-aD0CozTVBRIeGp44-kSDgmDfopidF4mLlQdTl4LvrlYXB/foodblog1.jpg" target="_self"><img src="http://api.ning.com:80/files/NQ48wH9Dt2R3tjyVARgPrwhuk6BAfeWJpMd16vxJoqxFFTbFUY-aD0CozTVBRIeGp44-kSDgmDfopidF4mLlQdTl4LvrlYXB/foodblog1.jpg" width="600" class="align-full"/></a></p>
<p>Are you a food lover, have great ideas about meal planning, or create fabulous recipes you cannot imagine keeping to yourself? Then you might consider creating a food blog. Here are a few easy tips to getting started as a Web foodie.</p>
<p><b>Blog Themes</b><br/> This may sound rather rudimentary, but a food-related blog theme is vital to any foodie blog either in your blog title, logo, or graphical elements. Essentially you want potential readers to know you are a food blogger right off the bat. Don’t keep them guessing; make sure they know that you blog about food within the first couple of seconds they arrive on your blog. <br/> <br/> <b>Photographs</b><br/> Some of the best food blogs like <b><a href="http://www.elise.com/recipes/">Simply Recipes</a></b> and <b><a href="http://chocolateandzucchini.com/">Chocolate and Zucchini</a></b> are fabulous, award-winning food blogs because the authors complement their topnotch writing with amazingly crisp, professional photos of their edible creations.</p>
<p>For most of us who either don’t have photography training or a high-priced camera to boot, photography will not be your strong suit or selling point. But as many bloggers have learned, nothing can compare to strong, compelling writing. So even if you don’t have beautiful photos to spruce up your recipes, take heart and snap photographs anyway. Your readers will appreciate seeing your finished dish.</p>
<p>And if you would like to have more beautiful photographs for your readers to sink their eyes into you can use this opportunity to take a photography class or invest in a camera with a specialized lens.</p>
<p><b>Social Networking</b><br/> As with every blog niche there are social networks that also cater to various interests. Foodies like to discuss food, share their recipes, and mull over culinary ideas. Venture across the Net and join food social networks like <b><a href="http://www.bakespace.com">BakeSpace.com</a>,</b> <b><a href="http://www.epicurious.com/community">Epicurious’ community in order to gain more readers and find other bloggers to suggest to yours.</a></b></p>
<p>We also have a <a href="http://mombloggersclub.com/group/foodie-bloggers" target="_self">group just for foodies</a>. Be sure to join us there!</p>
<p><b>A Little Inspiration</b><br/> <br/> To be a great blogger it is important to take a few notes from the best. Follow some of these prolific foodie blogs for a little inspiration. </p>
<p><a href="http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/" target="_blank">The Pioneer Woman</a><br/> <a href="http://seriouseats.com/" target="_blank">Serious Eats</a><br/> <a href="http://damndelicious.net/" target="_blank">Damn Delicious</a><br/> <a href="http://smittenkitchen.com/" target="_blank">Smitten Kitchen</a></p>
<p><i><b>If you author a foodie mom blog, be sure to post a link to it in comments. Or, if you have any other suggestions for fellow mom bloggers, be sure to share a bit of your knowledge as well.</b></i></p>
<p><i><b> </b></i></p> Your Kids vs Your Cell Phonetag:www.mombloggersclub.com,2015-07-30:988554:Topic:16263342015-07-30T12:16:40.667ZLeah Cooper-Procknohttp://www.mombloggersclub.com/profile/LeahCooperProckno
<p><a href="http://api.ning.com:80/files/NQ48wH9Dt2StgzFiJA2OR0p2lPKGWevtBJyjBmmXoZtx322gN5dHJfoQDxDRzXpu24yS*nwBJfRhwFGRrXafPjgq9rE5EEAl/GettyImages80613971.jpg" target="_self"><img class="align-right" src="http://api.ning.com:80/files/NQ48wH9Dt2StgzFiJA2OR0p2lPKGWevtBJyjBmmXoZtx322gN5dHJfoQDxDRzXpu24yS*nwBJfRhwFGRrXafPjgq9rE5EEAl/GettyImages80613971.jpg" width="280"></img></a> Being constantly connected to the Internet and social media is very important to many people, but can this go too far? </p>
<p>Have your kids ever asked you to put down your phone and pay attention to…</p>
<p><a href="http://api.ning.com:80/files/NQ48wH9Dt2StgzFiJA2OR0p2lPKGWevtBJyjBmmXoZtx322gN5dHJfoQDxDRzXpu24yS*nwBJfRhwFGRrXafPjgq9rE5EEAl/GettyImages80613971.jpg" target="_self"><img src="http://api.ning.com:80/files/NQ48wH9Dt2StgzFiJA2OR0p2lPKGWevtBJyjBmmXoZtx322gN5dHJfoQDxDRzXpu24yS*nwBJfRhwFGRrXafPjgq9rE5EEAl/GettyImages80613971.jpg" width="280" class="align-right"/></a>Being constantly connected to the Internet and social media is very important to many people, but can this go too far? </p>
<p>Have your kids ever asked you to put down your phone and pay attention to them?</p> Arguments in the Mom Spacetag:www.mombloggersclub.com,2015-07-29:988554:Topic:16258272015-07-29T13:08:58.074ZLeah Cooper-Procknohttp://www.mombloggersclub.com/profile/LeahCooperProckno
<p><a href="http://api.ning.com:80/files/qSAS7eZtx6C45snUQBXTJs1zNUCWPk29lKcEDP01yTlXweaQWxT*LGEnu6xPbv66zb*eqL5sna8npIcOIk5WN4zx3ybw5wge/GettyImages108272085.jpg" target="_self"><img class="align-right" src="http://api.ning.com:80/files/qSAS7eZtx6C45snUQBXTJs1zNUCWPk29lKcEDP01yTlXweaQWxT*LGEnu6xPbv66zb*eqL5sna8npIcOIk5WN4zx3ybw5wge/GettyImages108272085.jpg" width="280"></img></a> Undoubtedly you have probably seen an online fight between moms whether it's on Twitter, Facebook and now even on Instagram. We know...how is that even possible? </p>
<p>What happens when you see an online spat? Do you.. </p>
<ul>
<li>click away</li>
<li>read it </li>
<li>try to stop it</li>
<li>or fan…</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://api.ning.com:80/files/qSAS7eZtx6C45snUQBXTJs1zNUCWPk29lKcEDP01yTlXweaQWxT*LGEnu6xPbv66zb*eqL5sna8npIcOIk5WN4zx3ybw5wge/GettyImages108272085.jpg" target="_self"><img src="http://api.ning.com:80/files/qSAS7eZtx6C45snUQBXTJs1zNUCWPk29lKcEDP01yTlXweaQWxT*LGEnu6xPbv66zb*eqL5sna8npIcOIk5WN4zx3ybw5wge/GettyImages108272085.jpg" width="280" class="align-right"/></a>Undoubtedly you have probably seen an online fight between moms whether it's on Twitter, Facebook and now even on Instagram. We know...how is that even possible? </p>
<p>What happens when you see an online spat? Do you.. </p>
<ul>
<li>click away</li>
<li>read it </li>
<li>try to stop it</li>
<li>or fan the flames </li>
</ul> Safety Tips for Children Who Use Mobile Devicestag:www.mombloggersclub.com,2015-07-29:988554:Topic:16259142015-07-29T12:52:02.589ZLeah Cooper-Procknohttp://www.mombloggersclub.com/profile/LeahCooperProckno
<p><span><a href="http://api.ning.com:80/files/qSAS7eZtx6DZJ7y0egpeYsWesFoF4UCZtuDLVbKzjVnVipkeBeWA1Qd16FRtKdfO9eHdmcDJ8zDleJUiqv9Mz91am5eVHn2C/mobile.jpg" target="_self"><img class="align-full" src="http://api.ning.com:80/files/qSAS7eZtx6DZJ7y0egpeYsWesFoF4UCZtuDLVbKzjVnVipkeBeWA1Qd16FRtKdfO9eHdmcDJ8zDleJUiqv9Mz91am5eVHn2C/mobile.jpg" width="600"></img></a></span></p>
<p><span>Traveling often affords us the opportunity to notice the digital habits of people from coast to coast. Invariably, one trend that remains consistent everywhere is the ubiquitous and constant use of wireless devices. Everyone has one these day even small kids.</span><br></br> <br></br> <span>We see…</span></p>
<p><span><a href="http://api.ning.com:80/files/qSAS7eZtx6DZJ7y0egpeYsWesFoF4UCZtuDLVbKzjVnVipkeBeWA1Qd16FRtKdfO9eHdmcDJ8zDleJUiqv9Mz91am5eVHn2C/mobile.jpg" target="_self"><img src="http://api.ning.com:80/files/qSAS7eZtx6DZJ7y0egpeYsWesFoF4UCZtuDLVbKzjVnVipkeBeWA1Qd16FRtKdfO9eHdmcDJ8zDleJUiqv9Mz91am5eVHn2C/mobile.jpg" width="600" class="align-full"/></a></span></p>
<p><span>Traveling often affords us the opportunity to notice the digital habits of people from coast to coast. Invariably, one trend that remains consistent everywhere is the ubiquitous and constant use of wireless devices. Everyone has one these day even small kids.</span><br/> <br/> <span>We see kids tinkering with everything from iPod Touches, cell phones, mobile gaming devices, and laptops. And just from reading the news to friends' Facebook feed we know that many parents don't know how potentially dangerous these mobile devices are. Wi-Fi capability on one of these devices can connect your child to the Internet with a simple push of a button and a hot spot. Devices change all of the time and it is important to understand how they work.</span></p>
<p><br/> <b>WIRELESS DEVICES</b><br/> <br/> <span>Before you buy your child a wireless device it is imperative to figure out how it works. This can be a daunting task especially as a busy parent. Who has time to read an instruction manual with tiny print and figure out how a wireless device works on top of that? Sit down with your child and let them explain to you how the device works and how they will be using it. Or, if all else fails, before buying a wireless device grill the salesperson </span><span>about how it works. Ask questions such as:</span><br/> <br/> <span>1) Does the device have Wi-Fi capability?</span><br/> <span>2) Can my child download images and videos?</span><br/> <span>3) Can my child text from this device?</span><br/> <span>4) Can my child send and receive email from this device?</span><br/> <span>5) Does the device have filtering software?</span><br/> <br/> <span>Don’t feel bad about asking these questions and even encourage them to dumb down the answers for you if you're not quite up to speed on all of these latest tech toys. It's hard to keep up. There is absolutely no shame in learning about these devices and it beats getting surprised by how your child uses them in the long run. </span>While getting the rundown on your child’s wireless device may seems over your head especially as technology advances, it is crucial that you know and learn how it works. Children are extremely tech-savvy and if they find an opening to connect with their friends or others on the Net, they will gladly take that option. It is incumbent upon you as a concerned parent to make sure your child uses their wireless device sensibly. This is especially true as location apps grow in popularity. It may seem cool to your child to mark their location for the world to see, but the dangers are escalated when they do this. Make sure to school them on the potential threats and dangers location apps pose in addition to any other wireless activity.</p>
<p><br/> <span>Also be sure to monitor your wireless bill. Your wireless company keeps a tally of daily usage. This is a useful way to keep tabs on how your child uses their wireless device, especially cell phones. And more importantly you will not be surprised at the end of the month with an exorbitant wireless bill. Also, if your child’s wireless device can connect to the Web via Wi-Fi figure out a way to disconnect or disable it, especially if you are concerned about their ability to surf the Net or connect to "friends" using their mobile gaming devices. </span><br/> <br/> <span>In all, make sure to have heart-to-heart conversations with your child about their wireless devices and your expectations on how you would like them to use them. While wireless devices are fun toys to play with their potential for danger grows each year as our world becomes more connected. Talk with your children about wireless device safety, learn about the devices’ wireless capabilities, and always monitor your children’s usage or in-game app purchases to prevent bill surprises.</span><br/> <br/> <b>How do you monitor your child's use of wireless devices?</b></p> How Good is Your State's School System?tag:www.mombloggersclub.com,2015-07-29:988554:Topic:16256122015-07-29T12:38:40.270ZLeah Cooper-Procknohttp://www.mombloggersclub.com/profile/LeahCooperProckno
<p><a href="http://api.ning.com:80/files/qSAS7eZtx6Bpe-iuMVkqJIVdIm3Hm*nGnHZeP8E8Yn5Lfq4VA4o3gwmZ*eZ3CRvGuKKIBwfQcTkV9PAlRFyuDQQB9skp0CnO/state.jpg" target="_self"><img class="align-full" src="http://api.ning.com:80/files/qSAS7eZtx6Bpe-iuMVkqJIVdIm3Hm*nGnHZeP8E8Yn5Lfq4VA4o3gwmZ*eZ3CRvGuKKIBwfQcTkV9PAlRFyuDQQB9skp0CnO/state.jpg" width="600"></img></a></p>
<p>For the next month or so we will be talking a great deal about back-to-school. Today we're discussing school systems by state; that is the states that are doing the best and the ones that are struggling. </p>
<p><strong>Where do you live? How is your state doing? </strong></p>
<div dir="ltr">WalletHub conducted…</div>
<p><a href="http://api.ning.com:80/files/qSAS7eZtx6Bpe-iuMVkqJIVdIm3Hm*nGnHZeP8E8Yn5Lfq4VA4o3gwmZ*eZ3CRvGuKKIBwfQcTkV9PAlRFyuDQQB9skp0CnO/state.jpg" target="_self"><img src="http://api.ning.com:80/files/qSAS7eZtx6Bpe-iuMVkqJIVdIm3Hm*nGnHZeP8E8Yn5Lfq4VA4o3gwmZ*eZ3CRvGuKKIBwfQcTkV9PAlRFyuDQQB9skp0CnO/state.jpg" width="600" class="align-full"/></a></p>
<p>For the next month or so we will be talking a great deal about back-to-school. Today we're discussing school systems by state; that is the states that are doing the best and the ones that are struggling. </p>
<p><strong>Where do you live? How is your state doing? </strong></p>
<div dir="ltr">WalletHub conducted an in-depth analysis of <a target="_blank" href="http://wallethub.com/edu/states-with-the-best-schools/5335/">2015's States with the Best &amp; Worst School Systems</a>.<br/> <br/> To find the best school systems, WalletHub compared the quality of education in the 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia by analyzing 13 key metrics. Our data set includes such metrics as the pupil-teacher ratio, dropout rates, standardized-test scores and bullying incidents rates.<br/> <table border="0" cellspacing="0">
<tbody><tr><td> </td>
<td colspan="2"><strong><u>States with the Best School Systems</u></strong></td>
<td> </td>
<td colspan="2"><strong><u>States with the Worst School Systems</u></strong></td>
</tr>
<tr><td> </td>
<td>1</td>
<td>Massachusetts</td>
<td> </td>
<td>42</td>
<td>New Mexico</td>
</tr>
<tr><td> </td>
<td>2</td>
<td>Colorado</td>
<td> </td>
<td>43</td>
<td>California</td>
</tr>
<tr><td> </td>
<td>3</td>
<td>New Jersey</td>
<td> </td>
<td>44</td>
<td>West Virginia</td>
</tr>
<tr><td> </td>
<td>4</td>
<td>Wisconsin</td>
<td> </td>
<td>45</td>
<td>South Carolina</td>
</tr>
<tr><td> </td>
<td>5</td>
<td>Kentucky</td>
<td> </td>
<td>46</td>
<td>Oregon</td>
</tr>
<tr><td> </td>
<td>6</td>
<td>Vermont</td>
<td> </td>
<td>47</td>
<td>Louisiana</td>
</tr>
<tr><td> </td>
<td>7</td>
<td>North Dakota</td>
<td> </td>
<td>48</td>
<td>Arizona</td>
</tr>
<tr><td> </td>
<td>8</td>
<td>Minnesota</td>
<td> </td>
<td>49</td>
<td>Nevada</td>
</tr>
<tr><td> </td>
<td>9</td>
<td>Connecticut</td>
<td> </td>
<td>50</td>
<td>District of Columbia</td>
</tr>
<tr><td> </td>
<td>10</td>
<td>Illinois</td>
<td> </td>
<td>51</td>
<td>Alaska</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<br/> <strong><u>Key Stats</u></strong>
<ul>
<li>The District of Columbia’s <strong>dropout rate</strong> is four times higher than Iowa’s.<br/> </li>
<li>California’s <strong>pupil-to-teacher ratio</strong> is twice as high as Vermont’s.<br/> </li>
<li>The <strong>percentage of high school graduates who completed an AP exam in high school </strong>is four times higher in the District of Columbia than in Mississippi.<br/> </li>
<li>The <strong>percentage of public high school students who reported being threatened or injured with a weapon on school property at least once during the previous 12 months </strong>is three times higher in Arkansas than in Wisconsin.<br/> </li>
<li>The <strong>percentage of high school students who were bullied online</strong> is twice as high in Maine than in Mississippi.<br/> </li>
<li>In North Dakota <strong>the average SAT test score</strong> is 40% higher than in District of Columbia.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><br/> <span>What do you think? Is WalletHub right about the best and worst school systems by state?</span></p>
<p></p>